Stanley
Stanley No. 151 Adjustable Spokeshave
The standard adjustable spokeshave: a flat sole, a short iron and two knurled screws that set the depth at each end independently. Made in enormous numbers and still the one to buy.
- 1877–1980
- Scraper & Spokeshave
- medium confidence
| Model | No. 151 |
|---|---|
| Production | 1877–1980 |
| Sole length | 10" |
| Cutter width | 2-1/8" |
| Body | cast iron or malleable iron |
| Notable feature | twin thumbscrew depth adjusters |
How to identify it
- Two thumbscrews on top of the body engaging slots in the iron.
- Flat sole. The round-sole version for concave work is the No. 151R.
- 10 inch overall with a 2-1/8 inch iron.
Photograph needed: Stanley No. 151 Adjustable Spokeshave - overall view, plus a close-up of the toe and bed markings
Buying and using
Cheap, common and genuinely good. The usual fault is a worn or filed mouth; check it is still tight before buying.
The same size from other makers
These do the same job at the same size. Parts do not interchange between makers, but the shaving does not know the difference - and where one maker commands a collector premium, another usually does not.
| Maker | Called | Made |
|---|---|---|
| Millers Falls | No. 10 | 1929–1975 |
| Record | No. 04-1/2 | 1931–present |
| Sargent | No. 410 | 1887–1964 |
| Stanley | No. 4-1/2 | 1884–1967 |
| Stanley | No. 604-1/2 | 1898–1943 |
| Stanley | No. 9 | 1870–1943 |
What it is worth
- user / incomplete $10–$22
- complete, honest wear $25–$50
- excellent, pre-war $55–$110
Sources
- reference-site
Patrick Leach's Blood & Gore (Stanley plane model-by-model commentary) — Patrick Leach - book
Dictionary of American Hand Tools — Alvin Sellens